Bhikshatana-murti

Bhikshatana-murti is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as the ‘Supreme mendicant’ or the ‘Supreme Beggar’. The story behind this sculpture is that of Shiva roaming around as a mendicant as penance for plucking the 5th head of Brahma in a fit of anger. As he walks through the forests, naked, the wives of the hermits are completely taken by his beauty which angers the them who curse the mendicant and try to fight him, only to realize later that he is Shiva himself.‪